FMCSA exempts military cargo drivers from HOS break requirements

Washington – Certain drivers transporting cargo for the U.S. military have been exempted for two years from a federal hours-of-service break requirement, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Exempt drivers will be allowed to use 30 minutes or more of attendance time spent monitoring their vehicle to meet the HOS requirement of taking a 30-minute break after eight hours of continuous on-duty time. The exemption can be used only if no other work is performed during the attendance time, and applies only to drivers and carriers shipping weapons, ammo, or sensitive or classified cargo through a contract with the Department of Defense’s Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. Additionally, contracted carriers must have a satisfactory safety rating, or no rating record, with FMCSA, according to the agency.

The exemption went into effect Oct. 22.